Well pump



B...` E. MCCUNE WELL PUMP 'l Filed May 23. 19:'1

2 Sheets-#SheetI I J r II. I we Lv E. MCCUNE April 5, 1932 WELL PUMP Filed May 23,

1931 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented pr. `5, 1.932

' UNITED l s-T WELL Application filed Hay 23,

This'nvention relates to a devicefor handling liquid, and. relates moreparticularly to a well pump. It is a general objectcf/'the extending to the surface Aand operable in a Vbarrelin the`well, and the air or gas lift type in which the liquid is lifted vto thesurface through the action of the gas discharged'from l nozzlesl against the liquid. A -th'irdtype of well ump'has been introduced involving an l A impe 1er or screw arrangedin a chamber in tlielower end of a discharge tubeland oper-l ated by gas pr airunder pressure, which gas or air, in additionto operating the impeller, atomizesrthe liquid to greatly reduce'the v hydrostatic pressure of the column of umped. l liquid, and also aids inl lifting the liquid to that includes, in addition to fthe as-driven thefsurface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a well pump of the type 'last mentioned Y impfeller, a jet or nozzle which disc arges gas `under pxressure to drawthe liquid into the -c amber and pass it tothe rotor of the er. other object of this -invention'is t9 provide a well pump that is,lv very eilicient in operation and that is adaptable for use in various installations and v situations. The liquid handling device `or pump provided -by the present invention is Qwell suited for lifting oil or waterfrom comparatively shallow wells, as wellyas from veily' deep' well/5,. and 1s -Y particularly eihcie'nt and' inexpensive v of opera-tion,

V It is another object of lthe invention to provide a liquid handling device of the character mentioned that includes a nozzle'or jet discharging gas .under-pressure to drawliquldinto the body ofthe pump 0r device and to- 'c atomize the liquid, and a combination gasldriven rotor and liquid'atomized atomizes `it and discharges 1t upwardly by the nozzle and further 'rEs PATENT o LEWIS MccUNE,V or Los ANGELES, onmronnm impeller which. receivesy the FI-jlc PUMP 1931. serial. No.' 539,490'.

though the discharge pipe" or tubing. In accordance with the present linvention, the` liquid is fully atomized when it is discharged from the device so that the hydrostatic pressure of the column of punped liquid is greatly reduced as the air` or .gas moves or fiowsalong with 4the liquid and thus takes the pressure or load from the pump. f Y It is another object of the-invention to pro vide a well pum of the character mentioned 60 that maybe em odied in a simple, compact unit or assembly.

A further object ofthe invention is to pro. vide a pump of the character mentioned that is p articularlyadapted for use in oil wells, and the like, as it is not subjected to becoming sanded up or made inoperative by solid matteir in the liquid beinghandled.

Other objects and features ofthe invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed-description of typical forms and applications of theinven-l tion., throutghoutwhich description reference will be ha v`to the accompanying drawings, inwhichz- -1 l a Fignl is a vertical. section of a well casing showing one installation or embodiment of the' invention arranged therein. Fig. 2 is a view similar ,to Fig. 1, illustrating another :pplication or installation' of the invention. ,30 ig. 3 is an enlarged-longitudinal detailed sectional view of the form of the invention u illustrated in Fig. 1. of the-drawings.`l Figs. 4,' 5 and 6 are enlarged horizontal detailed sectional views vtaken 4as indicated by lin'esQB 4 4, 5-A -'5, Aand 6;-6, respectively, on Fig.,,' and Fig. ,7 is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectionalx'view ofthe upper portion of the pump illustrated in Fig. 2. p `The iuid handling-or pumping deviceprof vided by the present invention is capable of considerable modification `or variation vto adapt it for use in handling liquidsfof differ# ent characters and to adapt it' for various in# lstallations andxwell conditions.- In Fig. '1

ofthe drawings,.I have illustrated a form of` the invention arranged rwithin a wefll casing C; and adapted to' be operated by air or gas under pressure supplied through a pipe or tube 10. The tubing orpipe 11 for lff als4 ' end of the well casing C through a conduit vsection 19, so that the space S continues vis pipe 10. In Figs. 2 Iand I7 `of the drawlngs, I have illustrated. an embodiment of the invention in which the; gas for oper-` ating thepumpis passed into the upper 12. The gas under pressure is received or handled yby the pump in a manner to be hereinafter described.

tubing 13 passes the pumped liquid upwardly from the pump to the surface. Throughout the following disclosure, I will describe in detail the pumping device illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it being understood that my invention is not to be taken' as i'e-' stricted to the particular application of the invention disclosed, nor to the specific cons tructionabout to be described;

.The `form of pump illustrated in Fig. 1

and Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive includes, general' ly, a tubular housing 14, a chambered body ,f 15 within the housing 14',`a nozzle 16 for discharging gas under vpressure to raise `liquid into the body 15, a4 gas-driven turbine or rotor 17 in the body above the nozzle 16, andv a screw or impeller 18- actuated bythe-1'0-J tor 17. l

The housing14 is an elongated tubular member which surrounds the body 15. The opposite ends of the housing 14 are carried by the body 15. The body 15 of the pump is a. sectional tubular assembly extending completely through the housing 14. In the embodiment of the invention being described, the body 15 includes an upper section 19, an intermediate section 20, and a lower section 21. The upper section 19 projects above the upper end of the housing 14 and is adapted to be connected with the liquid discharge tubing 11. A screw-threaded socket 22 is provided in the upper end `of `the section 19 toireceive the lower end of the tubing 11or a coulpling Inember on the lower end of the tubing.

-upper end of the housing 14. The lower end portion of the section 19 which projectsdownwardly within the vhousing 14 is hollow or chambered, being provided with a central opening 26. The lower portionof the section 19 is spaced from the inner walls of the chambei' 14 so that an annular space S is provided i between the housing and the lower portion of the section 19. Lateral ports 27 are pro.-

vided in the walll 23 to connect the pipe 10- with the upper end of the annular space S.

Spaced ports or openings 27TJL extendA from the upper end o f the opening 26 to the Snicket 1' 22 to discharge'the liquid upwardly from'the 0 n the case illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings, a discharge the lower end lof the opening 34.

body into the oil tubing, or discharge tubing .11.

The intermediate section 20 of the body is a plain elongated tubular member and is attached to the lower end. of the section19.,

The section 20 is of the saine external dialn-l eter as the housedor encased portion of the downwardly around the section20./ A screwthreaded -connection is provided between the sections 19'and 20. This connection includes a pin 28 on thelower end of the section 19 threaded into a socket 29 inthe upper end of theintermediate section. The section 20 houses or encases the rotor 17 and the inipeller 19.

The lower section 21 of the body 15 vis attached to the lower end of the section'20 and is of the saine external diameter as the sections y19 and 20, so that the annular space S extei'ids Isection for retaining the housing in position. A ring or colla-r 3 2 is screw-threaded on the lowerend of the section 21 to maintain the housing 14 in its proper position. A suitable Washeir or `bushing 33 may be arranged between the lower end of the housing 14 and the collar 32. lVith the construction just described, the tubular housing 14'is removably clamped between the` downwardly facing shoulder 25 and the screw-threaded collar 32. A longitudinal opening 34 extends through the section 21 from one end to the other, and suitable strainer cap 35 may be* provided to strain the liquid passed upwardly into the opening 34.` Thecap 35V may have 'a pin 36 screw-tlireaded into'a socket 37 at The nozzle 16v is provided tol discharge gas under pressure upwardly through the opening 34a, to draw liquid into the lower end of the body and to lift or raise it through the opening 34 to the rotor 17. The' nozzle 16 is arranged inthe lower end portion 34 of the opening 34 and receives gas or air under pressure from the space Sto discharge it upwardly through the opening 34. In the preferred construction, the nozzle 16 is a simple integral member consisting of a base flange 38 and a tubular jet39 projecting upwardly from the flange. The baseflai'ige 38 is circular and is fisc arranged in the opening 34 above the socket A plurality of spaced ve tical openings 41 are provided in the flange 8 to pass the liquid upwardly. Thel jet 39 projects-upwardly y from the lange 38 and is centrally disposed in the opening 34a. The jet 39 may be of round cross sectional configuration and is provi ed with a vertical-.discharge opening 42. i

' The opening 42 may have upwardly and out- 4 wardly divergent walls. A'lateral port o r opening 43 is provided in the ilange 38 to communicate with the lower end of the opening 42. A portl 44 is provided in the walls of the section 21 to register with the port 43'to put the jet opening 42,' .in communication with the space S. In the preferred construction, the walls of the opening 36 around the lower portion of the jet 39 converge upwardly and 'inwardly so that the upper end of the jet is disposedwithin a Ireduced opening portion 34a. The body opening being restricted at 34a' provides for an increase in the velocity of the liquid as it is drawn upwardly "through the opening 34 `by the gas discharged from the jet39.

Checli means may be provided in connec,

tion with the jet 39 to prevent liquid from4 53 passing into the space S when the pump isnot in operation. A -ball 45-is provided'to co-y operate with the tapered'-walls of the opening 42 in the jet when-thev pump is not in operatiori to prevent liquid` from passing down` wardly through the jet. Theball 45 is held against upward displacement. in a manner to be hereinafter described. t will be obvious how the gas under pressure passed from the l' tubing 10 'and through the space S is discharged upwardly from they jet or nozzle 39 to cause liquid to be drawn upwardly into the opening 34 and to be propelled .or forced upwardly toward the rotor 17. Further,the gas or air discharging from the vnozzle operates to atomize the liquid as it passes upwardly to the rotor. c

The 'turbine or rotor 17 is arranged within the intermediate section 20` and is operable .by ,sure against its blades to rotatelthe impeller 18. Further, the rotor 17 operates'to me- 'chanically atomize the liquid passed between the impingement of thegas .under p resits blades through its rotation vand through the action of the in inging gas. The' rotor 17 is cylindrical in its general con''guration wardly and inwardly so that thegasdsl i' rected againstthe rotor blades 46 the desired manner.

Y...The invention provides novel andQ iin-v proved nieans for rotatably mounting the f provided in the. opening the rotor,-

rotor 17 in the body 15. A shaft-48 projects' downwardly from the lower lendpi the rotor.

A bearing, retainer 49 is mounted below the rotor 17 to carry ananti-fricti'on bearing 50 for rotatably carrying the shaft v48. The'.

etaining member 49 is provided at its up` 'per end witha flange 51 that is clamped `in the bottom of the socket 31 by the pin 30.

,A Vplurality of spaced openings'52 are provided in the flange '51 to `pass the -uid upl wardly tothe rotor 17 The bearing retainerf 49 extends downwardly from the flange 51?y fi andv is provided with a 4longitudinal openf ing 53.. The shaft 48 passes through an opening in the flange 51 to project downwardly through the opening 53. A suitable thrust y washer 48a may be-arranged betweenthe lower end 'of the rotor and the upper side of the retainr49. The bearing 5 0 may be in the ynature of a two-race ball bearing and is arranged against the upperY end of the'opening '.An adjustable thrust collar 54 is screw'- threaded opt the shaft48to transmit the upward thrust to Vthe bearin'g 50`. 'A lock plug 55 may be screw-threaded into the lower end of the collar 54 to set'the collar in the ldesired position. A` cap 56 is screw-threaded into the lower end of the bearing retainer 49 to completely close the lowerend 'of the opening 53. A suitablev lubricant maybe 53. -A rod 57'pr'ojects downwardly from the cap 56 to a point spaced a Vshort distance above the-upper'end of the jet 39. The rod 57 is provided to prevent the upward displabement of the ball 45.-

The impeller 18 isprovided ony the upper chanically' (lift or raise .the atomized liquidv vupwardly into the discharge tubing 1-1. Due

end of the rotor 17 and is operable termeto the action'of the nozzle 16 and the rotor 17, the fluid, upon passing upwardly from is fully atomized and is travelling or passing upwardly through the body.,`The impeller 18 is in the nat-ure of-a screw for forcing or pushingv the column of atomized liquid upwardly into and through-the discharge tubing 11. The limpeller 18 may-be vintegral with the rotor17, and is provided `with a plurality of spiralled or helicoidal blades 58. 4'When in operation, the impeller 18 picks up the atomized liquid after it has passed the rotor 17 and pushes or forcesv it upwardly through the opening 26 and the ports 27 a to discharge .upwardly through the tubing 11. In practice, the discharge tubing for passing the liquid to the surface may be connectedwith the body 15 by a swodge nipf -ple or reducing nipple, as illustrated in Fig.

2 of the drawings.- If desired, 'the' discharge tubing 11 may be directly connected with the body 15 so as to be oflarger diameter.

A shaft 60 projects upwardly from the upper end of the Iimpeller`18, and means is provided for rotatably carrying the shaft.

'f A bearing retainer 61 is mounted above-the innpellerflS and carries an anti-friction bearing 62. vA mounting flange 63 having fluid 'openings 63 is provided on the lower end of the retainer 61 and is clamped `in the bottom of the socket 29 by the screw-threaded. pin 28. A vertical opening 64 is 4provided in the upper end 'ef the retainer to carry the bearing 62, and the shaft 60 passes upwardly into the opening. 'An adjustable thrust collar 65 is screw-threaded on the shaft 60 to transmit tli'c"(low1i\\a1d thrusts to the bear-Y ing 62 and to retain the bearing in its properv position.; A plug 66 is threaded into the upper end of the [collar to retain itin position. A cap 67/,closes the upper end of the'opening 64 sothatl a suitable lubricant may .be provided in the opening. L The pricipal'or main parts of the embodi- `mcnt of the invention illustrated'in Figs. 2 and .7 of the drawings may be identical lwith those-in theiforin of the invention del -scribed above; In the installation illustrated inFig. 2 of the drawings, the housing 148L surrounds the body 15 in a manner similar to that described above. In this construction.. the housing 14a is perforated or provided with a plurality of spaced openings 8() for passing gas from the casing C intothe space S between the housing and the body. l As the gas in admitted into the space- S through the perforations 80 vdirectly from the well, it is not necessary to provide a pipe or tubing for carrying the gas under pressure to the pump.V Accordingly, the upper section 19a ofv the bodycompletely'closes ofi the *npperend'ot the housing'14l1 and .is provided with a single longitudinal opening 81. The.

opening 81 extends upwardly from the body opening or chamber 82 to the socket 22@ so that the discharging liquid'may passupwardly yfrom the opening 82 into theV tubing .13. The various parts within the body'l may be identical with'thos'e described above, 4ait being apparent that.' the modified meansfor supplying the-gas pressure to the pump does not necessitate changes in the pump con-- struction. f j i r It is believed that the operation of the liq- "0 uid handling dviee or well pump provided by this invention will be readily apparent` from' thev foregoing detailed "description f' During operation, the gas'under pressure is *i i g supplied .to the spaces-'either through theA 5" tube 10 or through the perforations 80, as the ease may be, and passes through the ports 44 and 43 to discharge from the nozzle 16.' VvThe gas dischargingfupwardly from the nozzle-16 draws the liquid upwardly into the body open- .L9 infr 34 and acts to atomize the liquid thus; passing into the body. Therestricted opening ortion 34 causes the liquid to'pass into the liody fithconsid'erable velocity, so that itmaly bemoving upwardly with considerable C; speed and force 'when passing the rotorl.

4to further atomize the liquid passing through i discharge .tubing 11 or113'is very small, so

.dled. The ball 45 positively 'prevents the ,The ports 47 discharge the gas under pres# y I tating the rotor l'when passing upwardly between the blades 46. The gas admitted through .the ports 47 and the rotor operate F5" l the pump. After the atomizedl liquid has passed the rotor 17 it is picked up oracted upon by the impeller 18 and mechanically forced upwardly through the opening 26 and the ports 27?' into tlie discharge pipe. As the 80 liquid discharging from the, pumpis thoroughly atomi'zed in the manner described above, thehydrostatic column of liquid in the that the pump dccs not operate under a heavy load. In this1nauner.the pump is particularly economicaland efiicient in operation as it may be effectively operated' at comparatively low gas pressure. 2 It is to be noted that the well pump provided b v this invention may be readily operated in deep wells and in crooked wells where the plunger type of pump would be impractical. The pump may be installed in various manners and may be modified' somewhat yto adapt it for various conditions. The p ump mayhandle liquid, for example,'oil carrying a certain amount of sand or solid matter, as there are noparts easilv made inoperative through the action of solidl matter in the liquid. The only points on which the sol-id mate ter maycollect a'rethel flanges 51 and 63. The liquid' passing openings in these flanges are v spaced very closevtogether, so that there' is no possibility for .the-accumulation of solid matter during operation of the pump. The

shafts 48' and 60 arerotatably supported- 'l an effective manner and so that they are not exposed to the actionof the liquid beinfr hanentrance of liquid into the' space when the 'L vpump is' not .in operation' and also operates to divide orbreak upthe'fljow of gas from the nozzle-'opening- 52 'so that it passes upwa-rdly"115 .in anannular stream to effectively act upon@ the 'liquidpassing thrughthe body. It'. is to be noted that the housings 14 and '14* are readily removable and exchangeable and that `the body 15 is sectionalso that the various parts maybe readily replaced. The means for rtatablymounting the shafts 48 and 60 l.

are suchthat the rotor and impeller maybe easily andl quickly dismounted.`

' Having. described only typical preferred frms of my invention, Il do not vwish to limit myselflto the specific details set forth, but f wish to .reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those. skilled in 130 4 body with sufficient force so thatit aids in rowithin the scope of tl followl body, a rotatable impeller inrthe body above the nozzle for forcing liquid upward from the nozzle, an a roto;I in the under pressure to actuate the impeller.

nozzle,

throu h the bod and a rotor in the body operable y gas un er pressure for rotating the impeller. e 2. A well pump'inc-luding, a tubular body, a nozzle for discharging gas throughl the body, a rotatable im eller in the body's aced 0 y between the nozzle and impeller operable by gas 3. A well pump including, a tubular body, a nozzlein the lower portion of the bodyfo'r dischargin gas under pressure upwardly to draw liqui into the lower end of the body and to atomlze it, a' rotor in the body above the and means for discharging gas under pressure against the rotor to operate it and to further atomize the liquid'p'assing the rotor.

4. A well pump including, a tubular body,-

a nozzle in the lower portion of the b ody for discharging gas under pressure upwardly to f draw liquid into the lower end of the body 'body and to atomize'it,

and to atomize it, a rotor in the body above the nozzle, an'imp'eller above the -rotor and' o erable by the rotor, and means 4for disc arging gas under 4ressure 'against the rotor to operate it an to furtherg'atomize the liquid passing the rotor. J s

" 5. A Well pum including, a tubular body,

` al nozzle in the ower ortionof vthe bod` for discharging gas un er pressure upwar ly vto draw liqui into the lower end of the the body beinJ of reduced internaLdiameter at the noma, a rotor in the body above the nozzle, and means i for discharging gas under pressure.' against the rotor to operate it 'and to further atomize the liquid passing the rotor.

6. A well pum of the character described including, a' bo y having a longitudinal l opening, a nozzle for discharging gas under peller for operating the impeller.

v 7. `A well pum ofthe character ressure upwardlyin the openingl to draw iquid into the lower end of the opening 'and -to atomize it, arid means'in the opening above the nozzle for forcinglthe atomlze liquid .ups wardly, said means including a rotatable impeller, and a` fluid` pressure actuated vrotor in vertical alignment with the nozzle and imdescribed including, a .body having a longitudinal opening, a nozzle for discharging gas under.

pressureupwardlyn the opening to draw liquid into the lower end of the opening and to 'atomize it, and means in the opening-above thenozzl for forcing the atomized li uid uid driven rotor, an impeller carried by. the'rotor,

- ter described, inc

and means for rotatably in the body.

mounting the rotor l` 8. Aiwell pumpmg device ofthe character described including, a 4body having a longitudinal-opening, a housing surroundin the ody and spaced 'therefrom to provi e a' space around the body, meansfonsupplying y .i

gas under pressure to the said'space, a nozzle for discharging upwardly through the body opening, there being a' port in the body for passing gas from the space to the nozzle,

an impeller'in the body opening, and a'ro-l .I

tudinal opening, a housing surrounding the body and spaced therefrom to provide a space around the body, means for supplying as under pressure to the said'space, a nozzle or dischargin opening, t ere bein aV port in the body for passing gas from t e space to the-nozzle',

check valve means for preventing liquid from passing through said port gb the-'said space A from the body opening, an impeller yin 4the body o enin and a rot'orin the body open? in`g vbe owf't e impeller for operating the impeller, lpass gas from the said` space to` impinge on therotor..l

10. A wellmpumping device of the charac-l udui longitudinal opening, a housing surrounds .ing the bodyand spaced therefrom'to provide a space around the body;y the housing being perforated to pass gas under` pressure into said space from the well, a nozzle 4in the body opening for discharging upwardly, 'there being ay port'in the body for passing as from the said space to the nozzle, an 'impeller in the bod opening, and a rotor inthe body belowthe. impeller for driving the impeller, there being aport in the body for passing gasfrom the said space to thel rotor. i

. a longitudinal opening,

end of the body for drawing'liquid -upward. into vthe opening,and means labove and independent o'fthe first mentioned means opg, a body having a 11. A well pumpincluding, a body. having l means at the lowerA Y upwa'rdlyfithroughA the body f susi l there being a port in the body to4 ini -12. A well pump including,'a body hav-k ing a .longitudinal opening, nozzlel means at. at the lower end of the body discharging gas under pressure upwardly insthe'body for drawing liquid upwardly into ythe opening and for atomizing'thevliquidpassed in tothe opening, and means inthe body lopening 'I r i 1,552,251

above the first mentioned means operable L I byunderpressure for mechanicall liftiquid and for further atomizing t eliq-l ,me J.

' 5 13.--Aiwell.l ump includin a-body have in'g a longitudinalopening or passing the l pum hquid upwardly, nozzle xeans at;` Y ,the ow'erfend of the y discharging as -un'der pressureupwardl m' the opening or -A 10 Adrai'viring liquid upwar y info the opening l and for a-tomizng the li uid passed intothe oningand `mea-ns in e opening spaced a vve -t e first mentioned means o rable bys under pressure for mechanica y forcing 15 quid upwardly -and for" further atomizing the liquid by its actuetingf t f j In witnessthat. I clainl the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my ame. this 4th dayofMny,1931. i f 20 i LEWIS E. MCCUNE- en V 

